- If you were first hired before July 1, 1991, the State pays its full share of your retiree health premium.Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 33; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(2)d
- Hired July 1, 1991 to Dec. 31, 2006: the State pays 0% of its share with under 10 years, 50% with 10-14, 75% with 15-19, and 100% with 20 or more years. Hired Jan. 1, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2024: 0% under 15 years, 50% at 15, 75% at 17.5, 100% at 20.Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 33, Table 6; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(3)a-b
- Check with the Office of PensionsHired on or after Jan. 1, 2025: 0% under 15 years, 50% at 15, 75% at 20, 100% at 25 years. This schedule is in the law and the 2026 workshop but not in the 2026 Summary Plan Description.The Summary Plan Description's Table 6 (p. 33) does not list it.Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 28; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(3)d
- Example: for Individual & Spouse on the Comprehensive PPO (2025-26 rates, $2,590.92 total), a retiree with 15 years pays $343.30 a month if hired in 1986, $905.21 if hired in 2003, and $1,467.11 if hired in 2007.Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 29
- Purchased service such as military buy-in does not count toward the years used for the health insurance state share.SEPP FAQs (saved Nov. 12, 2026), military service answer
- At 65 you and your covered dependents must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Dental and vision are available in retirement at your full cost. Each pensioner also gets a free $7,000 burial benefit.Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 34
How much of the State share the State pays
Eligible pensioners can keep the State health plans. The State pays a share of the premium (the 'State share') that depends on when you were first hired in a pension-creditable position and your years of service at retirement. Dental and vision are available at full cost to you. Summary Plan Description (2026), pp. 33-34, Retiree Benefits; Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slides 24-31
| First hired | State pays this much of its share |
|---|---|
| Before July 1, 1991 | 100% at any serviceSummary Plan Description (2026), p. 33; Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 25; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(2)d |
| July 1, 1991 to December 31, 2006 | under 10 years: 0%; 10–15 years: 50%; 15–20 years: 75%; 20+ years: 100%Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 33, Table 6; Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 26; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(3)a |
| January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2024 | under 15 years: 0%; 15–17.5 years: 50%; 17.5–20 years: 75%; 20+ years: 100%Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 33, Table 6; Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 27; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(3)b |
| On or after January 1, 2025Check with the Office of Pensions | under 15 years: 0%; 15–20 years: 50%; 20–25 years: 75%; 25+ years: 100%Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 28; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(3)c-d |
A disability pensioner gets 100%. Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 33 (disability pension or LTD: 100%); 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(2)b Bought service doesn't count toward the years. SEPP FAQs (saved Nov. 12, 2026), military answer (purchased credits do not count toward the years used to calculate state share of health insurance)
The 2026 Summary Plan Description's health table has only two schedules after 1991, so by its words someone hired in 2025 would follow the 2007 schedule (full State share at 20 years). Delaware law and the Office of Pensions' August 2026 workshop add a separate schedule for people first hired on or after January 1, 2025, with the full share only at 25 years. We use the law and the workshop.
Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 33, Table 6; p. 6 (law takes precedence); Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 28; 29 Del. C. §5202(b)(3)c-dThe 2026 Summary Plan Description leaves out the health schedule for people first hired on or after January 1, 2025. We use the schedule in the law and the workshop. A different schedule applies to 2025 hires 'subject to mandatory retirement', which the sources don't define; we assume teachers aren't (the Office of Pensions says SEPP has no mandatory retirement age).
What would settle it: A revised Summary Plan Description or a Statewide Benefits Office eligibility chart.
The Office of Pensions' three examples
Highmark Delaware Comprehensive PPO, Individual & Spouse, non-Medicare rates effective July 1, 2025: the total premium is $2,590.92 a month, of which the full State share is $2,247.62. A retiree always pays the $343.30 difference, plus any part of the State share the State doesn't pay. Each example has 15 years of service.
| First hired | State pays | Workshop: you pay | Ours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 198615 years | 100% | $343.30 | $343.30 |
| 200315 years | 75% | $905.21 | $905.21 |
| 200715 years | 50% | $1,467.11 | $1,467.11 |
Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 29, Health Insurance Example
Limits and Medicare
The law caps the State share at 96% of the premium for the basic plan, 95% for the high-deductible plan, 93.5% for the HMO and 86.75% for the Comprehensive PPO. 29 Del. C. §5202(a)(1)-(2)
Medicare-eligible pensioners and dependents must enroll in Parts A and B as primary. The Special Medicfill supplement is offered with or without Part D prescription coverage. For Medicare plans the State share is up to 95% of the premium, or 100% in these cases: first employed before July 1, 1991, retired on or before July 1, 2012, disability pensioner, or line-of-duty survivor. 29 Del. C. §5202(a)(3)-(4); Summary Plan Description (2026), p. 34, Medicare Eligibility; Office of Pensions workshop slides (Aug. 4, 2026), slide 30
See also working after retirement (going back to a pension job stops retiree health too), buying service (it doesn't count here) and the calculator, which shows your share.
Questions
Do Delaware teachers keep state health insurance in retirement?
Yes, eligible pensioners can stay in the State health plans. How much of the State's share the State pays depends on when you were first hired and how many years of service you have.
How many years do I need for the full State share?
It depends on your first hire date. Before July 1, 1991: any service. July 1, 1991 to December 31, 2006: 20 years. January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2024: 20 years. On or after January 1, 2025: 25 years.
Does bought service count toward the health share?
No. Purchased service such as a military buy-in doesn't count toward the years for the State share.
Source: State Employees' Pension Plan Summary Plan Description, 2026 edition (PDF dated May 14, 2026), pp. 33-34. Also: Office of Pensions workshop (Aug. 4, 2026), slides 24-31; Office of Pensions SEPP FAQs; 29 Del. C. § 5202. Last reviewed .